EUNAVFOR warship evacuates casualty from merchant vessel in Indian Ocean

Late on the evening of 23 February, EUNAVFOR warships in the Arabian Sea were alerted that an incident had occurred on board a German owned container vessel, 155 Nautical miles South East of the island of Socotra, resulting in burns to one of the crew.

A request for immediate assistance and possible medical evacuation was received soon after.

EUNAVFOR warship FGS HAMBURG, which was on Counter-Piracy patrol in the area, immediately launched its helicopter and evacuated the injured sailor. The casualty will be kept on board the FGS HAMBURG until she reaches her next port of call where he will be transferred to a local hospital for further treatment. The family of the injured Russian sailor, have been informed by the company. Details of the incident that resulted in the injuries are not known at this time.

This is the second time during the deployment of FGS HAMBURG with EUNAVFOR that the German frigate has provided medical assistance. In December 2010 a sick crew member of the pirated vessel HANNIBAL II was rescued by the vessel after a suspected appendicitis.

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